She didn’t know if concern was a ploy or genuine and at quite frankly it really didn’t matter to her right at that moment. She held on to him as if he were the only thing standing between her and death. She glued her eyes shut and tried to prepare her self for the journey.

Dinu's heart fluttered when she grabbed him from behind. It wasn't EXACTLY what he meant, but the young human would not be complaining. With a small movement, Dinu ordered Fyre to take off. With a powerful push from her wings, Fyre launched herself and her passengers off the ground, and began the short, and safe, journey to the human capital of Faust.It could be seen in the distance, stone walls bordering the inner sector. But the main thing that could be noticed with Fortrend Castle, home of the Queen of humanity. Dinu had never been to Faust, but he knew they weren't fans of Gavinrad's adventure.

'If you'd like, the view is terrific,' Dinu said, trying to lighten the mood. Fyre cawed in agreeance, and Dinu laughed, his hair whipping his face

Ok breath just breath she kept saying to herself as she felt the bird take off. When the man, who she never asked for a name, suggest looking at the view she could help but take a peek. It was beautiful but she only got a moment to enjoy it before she suddenly felt like she was falling causing to clutch the man even tighter pressing her full body against his back.

Dinu resisted the temptation to laugh as he felt Mino clutch tighter. His heart pounded in his chest. Why wouldn't it, Mino was quite pretty. And here he was, taking her on a ride through the skies. Despite terrifying her, he couldn't help but understand the romantic threads present.Fyre cawed once again, as she flew low over the forest, her talons dragging at the leaves atop the trees. Then, Dinu heard a small slash, and patted Fyre.'Not now, girl, put it down' Fyre obliged, but wasn't happy

Oh gods this is how she’s going to die. Clutching the back of a suicidal human like a little babe clutches its mother. I should have never entered that tavern she thought as tears welled up in her eyes.

Dinu felt liquid on his back, and realised it was where Mino's face was. He looked ahead, and saw Faust was still at least a fifty minute walk away, but made the desicion to spare her the hit to her dignity.'Fyre, down,' Dinu shouted, and Fyre obliged, lowering towards the ground. Dinu held onto Fyre's neck, and smiled to himself.'Good girl,' he said, then thought to himself, I thought elves were a little braver

Stopping before you wet yourself, Dinu thought, but thought about his response before answering, 'we've stopped because I realised if we get near Faust with a cliff bird, they'll try and kill us. It's better if we walk from here, just to avoid the arrows'Dinu made to get off the bird, but Mino was holding him too tightly.'Mino-wa, you need to let me go, or we'll get nowhere'Fyre laughed again, and Dinu smacked her on the top of her head, shutting her up. Fyre shook the pain away, and lied down on the ground, waiting for the two people and the dog to get off her back.

She could feel the eyes boring into her back as she neared the limits of her forest village. She had never really been well liked in the first place but that always suited her just fine. The average elf had no use for her, nor her for them. She had learned from a young age that she was all she would ever need and that relying on others only lead to disappointment.

"To the hells with them." she muttered to herself as she made her way through the various trails that would lead her out of the forest and towards her destination. A human settlement called Fienster, it also was home to quite a few undersided brigands of which she would possibly have to coax into giving her information. "They want me to say a bloody dragon..." she muttered to the empty air, her footfalls making not a sound or leaving a trace of her passing as she walked the leaf strewn paths both alert and yet self reflective. She knew just what this was about. She had made a pass at one of the Elders' daughters and lashed out when she had been mocked by the young woman and ridiculed for her tastes. Though it was half a century ago, elves rarely forgot anything and their politics were slow and brutal. Something and elf said to you today could very well be just one part of a plan spanning centuries.

Her mind began to wander over the political nature of her race and she couldn't help but notice serious contrasts. Some of her people acted so much like human's when it came to politics. Quick to get a hand on the situation and seize what control and power they could, where as the average elf did things extremely slowly.

She quickly forced herself to push the thoughts aside and focus on the task at hand. So she was being punished. So what? So they knew it was pretty much a death sentence. Who cared? Its not like they could make her go fight the behemoth of a beast. She could always say that there were reports that the item she was after, the artifact of Illia, wasn't one taken by the beast in the first place. That it was taken by bandits or any number of other conceivable tales. Telling stories was one of her specialties. She had an innate talent for coaxing people from difficult positions but there were limits to this talent.

Shaking her head she sighed wearily as she reached the edge of the forest and set her eyes on the gray low walled city of Fienster. It really wasnt much to look at. Nothing but a few buildings and houses lining two intersecting main roads and a few smaller avenues branching off from that. It wasn't even well defended and the wall could be hopped by an elven child on a dare. Then there was the ugly grey stone color and the smells wafting up the hill from the small town.

Sighing to herself and eying a plume of smoke rising from the main building, the Conclave of Chiefs, she picked a weary path down the slope and headed towards the city.

Oh how mortally embarrassing. Letting go as quickly as her stiff arms could move she clambered off the bird with about as grace as, well, a human. Oh thank the Gods for land at last. Turning her back to the human and the devil bird she wiped the tear streaks from her face and asked “What is your name?”

Mino leapt off quickly, almost glad for her feet on solid land and forgettingg all about her dog. Dinu loosened the knots on the ropes, and Grave jumped towards his friend, then growled at Fyre. Fyre ignored him. Thank goodness, Dinu thought.'I already told you, my name is Dinu,' Dinu said as he slid down the silk-like feathers of the cliff bird. He walked over to Mino, and put his hand on her shoulder when he saw she was wiping her eyes.'Hey, it's ok, Mino-wa, Fyre takes some getting used to, but we don't have to fly now we're in Mrtyu. We just needed to avoid the dwarves'Without warning, Fyre took off, and caweed her farewell to Dinu. Dinu waved with his free hand, and continued trying to comfort Mino.'Next time, you can pick the travel arrangements,' he said with a nudge

Now that she was on solid ground she started feeling like herself again so when that insipid human started to touch her, her rage can at full force. “I. Will. Never. Ride. That. THING. Ever. Again!” Mino-wa told him making sure to punctuated every word so that his tiny human brain could comprehend. “Oh and touch me again,” she told him making sure he got the full force of her glare, “And I’ll kill you.” Turning on her heels she started walking.

Mino practically shouted in Dinu's face as Fyre soared away, and Dinu couldn't help but smile at her attempt to regain her composure. Then she threatened him, and Dinu scoffed, unable to hold himself back.'I trained with Gavinrad Kenaado himself. The only man, of any race, to survive an assault from Olduiin. I think you'll find I'm more of a challenge then you give me credit for'Dinu's hand slid down to the blade sheathed at his side. He knew it was a risk to enrage an elf with anger management issues, but he couldn't help himself. He was practically dying for a reason to hit this woman in the face, as bad as it sounded. She showed no respect for him, or Gavinrad. So Dinu would teach her.'Unless you are too... cowardly... to prove you're better then me'

Walking the cobbled streets she grinned as a she caught a few people staring. She wasn't particularly vain but it did feel nice to be noticed every once in a while. Drawing down on the main building she looked it over. A simple structure with a little ornate set of steps and entrance arch. Large solid wooden doors banned with iron stood before her as she mounted the steps. Without waiting she entered and looked around. The Inside of the building was two rooms. The main room, and a smaller room tucked behind it for private meetings. The main room was circular and hosted twelve ornate chairs atop a black marble floor with a thirteenth chair being set straight before the door against the other side of the room and upon a raised dais. This was where the current leader of Fienster would sit unless they deemed otherwise.

A soft grin stretching her lips as she took note of the man sitting on the chair she nodded to him. "Hello Borgen." she said in a casual tone. Borgen was the current ruler of Fienster and one of the few people Ellifain found to her liking. She had gotten acquainted with the man over an incident that involved her breaking his son's arm for his sense of spirit.

She saw the man flash a warm grin before Leaning back in his chair. "Goddess greetings Ellifain." he said in his deep rich voice. She noted the man's long dark hair had been recently upkept and his beard neatly trimmed. His green eyes flashing mirthfully at her as he awaited her expected response.

Placing her heels together she gave him a tight bow, grinning the entire time then promptly looked at him and asked "So. How's your son's arm?" The man's grin soon matched her own as he tried to keep himself from laughing. It was a subject that filled him with endless humor.

The man's son, Dorin was easily seven feet tall and thickly corded with muscle. His forearm alone was probably as big as his fathers head and he was an impressive figure to behold. However, one night deep in his ale, he made several aggressive passes at Ellifain. After trying tactfully to rebuff the man while keeping his pride upheld, she soon found out that he was to far into a stupor to understand anything but direct tactics. After pointedly telling him that he was both to young for her and not to her suiting, he proceeded to grab her waist. At which point she'd had enough.

With the speed well known of her people, she latched on to his right forearm in an under-wristed hold. With all the self restraint she could muster she then curled her right fist and left her index knuckle protruding and pressed it forcefully into the man's arm only releasing when she heard it snap.

"He has learned that some flowers carry thorns." the man said laughing and shaking his head. However soon his face fell somber and he said "Someone has preceded you here." Nodding to an area just behind the large open doors to her left he looked back at her and she suddenly dropped her hand to her waist where she kept a well honed dagger.

Stepping from behind the door was a woman she knew well. Her long silver hair and matching eyes ones that Ellifain wouldn't forget.

Suddenly Minow-wa rage turned burning hot to frost biting cold. The cold helped calm her and center her thoughts. “You think I would challenge some one with superior strength to a duel? Even if you weren’t trained your weight a lone would have me out matched.” She told him all this with an eerie calm. “But what I can do is run and hid. Waiting until you think you’re warm and safe in your bed,” She said this as she covered the distance between them. “You’ll be dream your happy dim witted dreams,” She put her hands on his chest and slowly brought them up to his shoulders. “And do you know where I’ll be?” She asked as she brought her lips up to his ear and pressing her body against him she said, “I’ll be slitting your throat.” To emphasize her point she drew her finger slowly across his throat enjoying the feeling of his nervous swallow.

Superior in strength? Dinu knew this was not the case. Elves were known for their battle prowess, as well as their allure. If anyone could beat Dinu in his first real fight, it would be her. But as she spoke, Dinu found his mind drifting away as she covered the distance. He felt her hands on his chest, and his damnable heart started pounding once again. Damn his body, thinking for itself.Her hands slid up to his shoulders, and her lips hovered barely an inch from his ear. Then she whispered a contrasting threat, and emphasised the point by running a finger along his throat, causing him to swallow his mouthful of air.Dinu couldn't let her have the last word, though. His stubborn human pride had kicked in, and he waited until she started moving back before wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close again.'You know, you talk like you hate everything in the world. Whatever made you feel like this isn't me. To get to Olduiin, we need to work together, Mino-wa. If we don't, we won't even get past Faust'He released her, then stepped back, leaning on a redwood tree.'So, are we going to try and work together? Or are we going to fight the whole way there?'

Mino-wa’s super cool icy state was being to ware off. Giving him a disparaging look she said, “As long as you keep your hands and that damnable flying death trap away from me, we can be the best of friends.” Giving him her best innocent eyes, which were closer to sinister than anything else, she turned and started walking.

Kuval made his way down the beaten path toward Faust, his hood over his long hair. His staff, made of enchanted wood that just barely taller then he was, stripped and rubbed smooth with the claw of a dragon on top clutching a smooth piece of cut onyx, was in one hand. The tome carrying his master's spells was in the other under his cloak. He looked weary, having traveled the last week just to get here. He heard a rumor that companions could be found here. People crazy enough, like himself, to go after the great dragon that took his master from him. He cracked his neck and headed toward the city that was now visible on the horizon.

Dinu smiled one last time as she walked away, her dog hot on her heels. She was elven, that much was certain, but there was something... more about her. Almost as if... It hit Dinu in the face as he ran to catch up to her, so they could begin their long trek to Faust.'You're half human,' Dinu said matter-of-factly. He knew it was true. Her ears were smaller, her beauty was less unnatural and her anger was more human then anything.'Hit me if you want, but I won't tell anyone. I only have and want one enemy. And it seems to me he's our primary concern.

The woman looked at Ellifain with a superior satisfaction. "Greetings Ellifain." The elven maiden spoke in a tone laced with that same satisfaction. "I'm glad you made it this far. The woods weren't to taxing on you, were they?" Her tone almost holding what sounded like genuine concern, but Ellifain wasn't fooled for a moment. She knew it had been Ilona that had put her in this situation and used her fathers position as an Elder to do it.

"Oh it was no big deal." Ellifain said, quickly regaining her composure. She would die long before she gave this harpy the satisfaction of besting her in anything. "I am surprised though. It isn't often our people let a lylthing wander outside the forest unaccompanied." she said in a friendly tone using the word for child in the elvish language. "Tell me, is everything well back home? I would think the council would be extremely busy if they over looked sending an escort with someone of your standings." Her following smile sweet and laced with honey, she watched as the barb sank in and Ilona struggled to control her own emotions at being called both a spoiled brat of a child and someone needlessly tucked in a corner while the adults talked.

"Tell me." Ellifain continued, unable to stand the woman's presence any longer. "What has brought you so far from home?"

Ilona's eyes pooled over as she regained her miniscule self control and she seemed to stretch up to her full hieght. With an air of self importance she said "The council has decided that you should start your search in Faust and arranged for you to have an audience with the queen herself."

Tilting her head slightly in acknowledgement she made to move past Ilona only to have the woman take a half step into her path. In an overblown tone she said "I hope your journey is a safe one." before adding in a hushed voice "The roads are so dangerous these days. There is no telling what would happen to a woman who doesn't take care."

Her right shoulder hiding her next action from the view of the man behind her, she drew her dagger and placed it tightly against the woman's throat and gripped her tunic to keep her from stepping back. "Perhaps i should show you." she spoke, in a tone of finality.Using her grip on the woman's tunic to pull her closer, she pressed slightly on the blade forcing the woman to turn her back to her. Her left hand slipping around the woman's waist just after releasing her tunic she smiled once more and spoke in a voice too low for human ears to hear.

"I could slit your throat right here and now and convince everyone in town that you gave me little choice in the matter." A purposely heavy laugh pealed past her lips as she brought them close to the clearly frightened woman's ear. "Or i could do much much worse. I wonder, what would your skin feel like against mine?"

She felt the woman tense and swallow hard. She also felt the shiver that ran through her barely suppressed. Having accomplished what she wanted, she shoved the woman forward then made her way outside, her ears picking up the faintest sounds of laughter from Borgen as she left.

It was a fortnight to Faust but that wouldn't stop her from getting there by tomorrow morning at the latest. Nodding she set out to make good on that goal and missing it only by a scant few hours as she arrived just outside the city walls, taking in the neighboring farm lands as she waited for the gate to open for the day.

Mino-wa glared at him as if trying to kill him with just her eyes. “Was there a point to you stating the obvious? Or do you just like to hear yourself talk?” She asked as she picked up the pace deciding that the sooner they get to Faust the sooner he could find nice humans to talk to and leave her alone. This was amounting to be the longest trip of her life and they hadn’t been traveling for more then a day.

Dinu smiled, and took in his surroundings. Beautiful trees with rustling leaves and wildlife, rabbit dens with foxes trying to dig down into their sanctuary. The waves of green on either side of the dirt road were almost too much for Dinu. He'd never been this far out, and it brought a tear to his eye. Was this how Gavinrad felt when he left his hometown? What did other countries look like? Was Mrtyu unique, or identical? Too many questions with not enough time to answer. But he did have someone to talk to.'Can we start again?' Dinu said quietly, trying to repair his relationship with his only ally, 'Please?'

Mino-wa sighed inwardly; of course the one human who happens to know where the Dragons lair is has to be chatty do goodder on a mission to save humanity and apparently my soul. I say let them both die but that would be too easy for the guy upstairs (the gods) to let slide. Maybe if I just answer his questions now the rest of the journey will be quite. As she was contemplating this conundrum she saw smoke rising in the sky. “What do you suppose that is?” She asked her ever talkative companion.

Dinu saw the smoke too, almost just as Mino questioned it. Without thinking, Dinu unsheathed his sword and ran towards it. It was too big for a campfire, but too small for a village attack. Maybe some hermit's home had caught fire?'Come on, Mino-wa' Dinu yelled over his shoulder, 'it might be bad'